Your First Hot Air Balloon Ride – FAQs

Are you planning on going on your first hot air balloon ride? If so, you will want to know some of the things that you should do and expect on your first ride. Below, we will be going over some of the key tips for your very first hot air balloon flight.

Tips and FAQs For Your First Hot Air Balloon Ride:

1. What Should You Wear? 

Without ever experiencing a hot air balloon ride, you might be in the dark about what you should consider wearing. If you are trying to figure out what you should wear for your first ride, you should think about keeping it simple. While it might depend on the time of year you are flying, you generally want to dress as if you are going on a brisk walk. It is best to dress in layers so it is easy to remove.

Typically, you are only going to be flying in mild conditions. Therefore, you shouldn’t expect precipitation or heavy winds. It’s also not very cold as some people might presume.

You are required to wear boots or sneakers. Footwear like high heels, flip-flops, clogs, Crocs, and sandals of ANY kind are not permitted.

It is recommended that you wear something to protect yourself from the heat of the burners. Use a hat to protect your head and wear something with sleeves so your upper body will also be protected.

2. How Long Will The Ride Take? 

You might also be wondering how long the entire ride is likely to take. In general, a hot air balloon ride will take around 3 to 4 hours total.

3. Is Taking A Hot Air Balloon Ride Safe?

While it might sound scary to some, a hot air balloon ride is one of the safest modes of transport. Because hot air balloons require mild weather, you are only going to take flight if the weather conditions allow for it. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about weather conditions making things unsafe for you or other passengers.

4. What Can I Expect?
   

If you are traveling on a hot air balloon for the first time, prepare to be amazed. There are very little activities that you can experience that will give you the same ‘being in awe’ feeling. You can expect to see amazing landscapes and views that you simply wouldn’t be able to experience elsewhere.

5. You Can Still Fly Even If You Are Afraid of Heights

Many people who are afraid of heights are usually just afraid of edges. Fear of edge is being afraid of standing on the edge of something, like looking over a cliff or a high window. A balloon basket’s edge comes all the way up to the waist so it removes that fear that you are about to fall off.

Also, the brain cannot perceive how high you are because the hot air balloon is not attached to the ground. Unlike if you’re on a top of a skyscraper, you’ll be able to see the bottom of the building you are standing on. That’s where you get the feeling that you are about to fall out.

BalloonVermont.com had flown hundreds of people who have said that they are afraid of heights before they booked. You can trust the company’s experience on this.

6. Bring Sunglasses With You.
   

If you are taking flight in the morning, it might not seem as obvious to bring shades along for the ride. However, as soon as the sun rises, you will wish you had some eye protection.

7. Protect Your Things. 

If you are going to be bringing various things with you along for the ride, you should look to protect everything by tying it to you somehow. You can use things like sunglasses straps, phone straps, camera straps, and more. By doing this, you don’t have to worry about your things falling out of the balloon in mid-flight.

8. You Won’t Have A Bathroom.
   

While you don’t have to worry about not having a bathroom when you take flight in a plane, you are not going to have the same luxury when in a hot air balloon. You will not have access to a bathroom for the entire flight/ride. Therefore, you should be looking to plan accordingly.

9. Follow The Safety Guidelines. 

When taking off for your flight, the staff will be there to provide you with all of the necessary safety information. You want to take this information in and pay attention to all of the guidelines set forth. This can help to ensure that you have a completely safe ride for everyone in the balloon.

10. Get Ready To Be Amazed.
    

A hot air balloon is one of the most amazing experiences you will have anywhere. Therefore, when you are getting ready to take flight, prepare to be absolutely amazed. Be ready to take in everything throughout the entire experience as there is nothing like it.

Overall, a hot air balloon is one of the best experiences that you will have anywhere. As long as you go into the experience knowing everything above, you should be able to have an excellent time on your first hot air balloon ride.